Rotary egg-support for incubators.



0. ERNST.

ROTARY EGG SUPPORT FOR LNCUBATORS;

APPLICATION FILED FEB. :3. 191a.

1,242,670. v Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

iii. 0 zz r u z Oscaa Bauer? OSCAR ERNST, OF SCHUYLER, NEBRASKA.

ROTARY EGG-SUPPORT FOR INCUBATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

Application filed February 23, 1916. Serial No. 79,896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Oscar: ERNST, a citi-' zen of the United States, residing at Schuyler, in the county of Colfax, State or Nebraska, have invented a new an useful Rotary Egg-Support for Incubators; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a rotary egg support for incubators, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby the eggs may all be simultaneously turned at periodic intervals as may be required to obtain the best results from the incubator.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a rotary egg support of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be easily .and quickly manipulated from the outside of the. incubator, which will turn all of the eggs exactly the same amount, and which will not unnecessarily jar or disturb the Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure- 1 is a top plan view of a rotary support for incubators constructed in accordance with the invention, portions being broken away and shown in section to illustrate more clearly the details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the device.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a slight modification.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, the numeral 1 designates a rectangular frame which is adapted to be fitted Within the incubator and upon which the egg supporting mechanism is mounted. The side pieces of the frame are provided at the ends thereof with corresponding .bearings 2 within which transverse rollers 3 are journaled. These bearings 2 are preferably slidably mounted and movable by means of adjusting screws 4 so that the rollers 3 can be moved toward or away from each otheras may be required to tighten or loosen the endless canvas belt 5 passing around the same. The ends of the rollers 3 are provided with sprockets 6 which have substantially the same diameter as the rollers and engage the endless chains 7 to which the edges of the canvas belt or apron 5 are secured. The end of one of the rollers 2 terminates'in a square head 8 which is adapted to project through the side of the incubator for engagement with the socket of a removable crank handle 9. By fitting the crank handle upon the square head and turning the roller motion can be imparted to the endless belt 5, and owing to the fact that the edges of the belt are secured to the chains 7 which pass around the sprocket wheels 6, any slipping of the belt upon the rollers is rendered impossible. Cross bars 10 connect the side pieces of the frame 1 and are arranged adjacent the respective rollers 3, said cross bars being connected by a series of longitudinally extending wires or rods 11 which are arranged under the upper reach of the belt 5 and prevent sagging thereof under the weight of the eggs 12 which rest thereon.

The eggs 12 rest upon the canvas apron 5 and are arranged in a series of transverse rows with division rods or wires 13 between each row. These transverse wires 13 have a sinuous form, being bent back and forth throughout their length to provide depressions of a suitable size to receive the eggs 12 and prevent the eggs from moving transversely upon the apron as they are rolled or revolve thereon. With this arrangement, it will be obvious that the eggs rest upon the canvas belt or apron 5 and are frictionally engaged thereby in such a manner as to be rotated when the apron is moved, owing to the fact that the transverse wires 13 prevent the eggs from traveling with the canvas apron. All of the eggs are simultaneously and uniformly rotated, although they can be readily turned as often as may be found desirable, there being no"need to individually turn each of the eggs by hand in the old fashioned manner.

Referring to Fig. 4, which illustrates a modification, the reference characters 3 designate rollers to which opposite ends of a flexible apron 5 are secured, said apron extending over the longitudinal supporting wires 11 and under the transverse abutlnent s or wires 13 which are mounted upon the frame 1 as in the previous instance. The eggs 12 are arranged in rows between the transverse wires 13 and rest upon the apron 5 so that by turning either of the rollers 3 the aprpn 5* can be moved and the eggs rotated the roper amount. After the apron 5 has been completely unwound from one of the rollers 3 and wound upon the opposite roller 3*, the direction of movement thereof can be reversed, the operating crank handle being adapted to be applied to either one of the rollers.

Fig. 5 illustrates a slightly different construction in which the transverse wires 13 are carried by a frame 15 which is fitted removably upon the main frame 1. This construction admits of the frame 15 with the transverse wires 13 being lifted out of position and bodily removed from the incubator when the eggs begin to hatch.

Having thus described theinvenztion, What nae-acre ll claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The herein described rotary egg support for incubators, including a frame, corresponding transverse rollers journaled upon the frame at opposite ends thereof, corresponding sprocket wheels applied to the ends of the rollers, end'less chains passing around the sprocket wheels, a fabric apron having the edges thereof secured to the chains and passing around the rollers so as to be stretched between the same, transverse rods extending between the sides of the main frame at points adjarent the upper reach of the apron, a series of spaced longitudinal Wires connecting the transverse rods and providing a support for the upper reach of the endless apron, a crank handle applied to one of the rollers for moving the apron, a removable frame fitted within the main frame above the endless apron, and a series of transverse wires carried by the removable frame and extending across the apron for engagement with rows of eggs thereon to prevent the eggs from traveling with the apron when the latter is moved.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

- OSCAR ERNST.

Witnesses:

G. l). FLETCHER, J. M. SIMMONS. 

